Use of GRA-Fuzzy and TOPSIS for Multi-Response Optimization in CNC end Milling

Abstract

In production/manufacturing context, multi-response optimization of machining processes is one of the most important areas of research to find out the best process environment for any machining operation. Literature is seemed rich in addressing multi-response optimization problems using various techniques. It has been viewed that these methods are not efficient enough due to so many assumptions and limitations imposed upon it. Therefore, researchers are concentrating in hybridizing various methods to empower advantageous aspects thereby avoiding/overcoming inherent limitations of aforesaid individual methodologies. The present study aimed to develop such a hybrid method which could efficiently be applied for continuous quality improvement for a process/product and to facilitate in off-line quality control of any manufacturing process. In the present work, two optimization philosophies (i) TOPSIS based Taguchi method and (ii) Grey relation analysis (GRA) followed by Fuzzy logic and Taguchi method has been proposed here to optimize machining parameters in CNC end milling operation towards improving quality as well as productivity simultaneously.